Oregon is constantly on Michigan State's mind

Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) throws under pressure from Stanford Cardinal defensive end Josh Mauro (90) during the first half at the Rose Bowl.(Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)

Michigan State football players took their conditioning tests Thursday and were due to report to camp today, with the first practice set for Saturday. The season opener against Jacksonville State is four weeks away — and then, finally, the Spartans will be able to pay full attention to the game everyone else wants to discuss.

That would be MSU's Sept. 6 trip to play Oregon, a game some publications have identified as the top nonconference matchup of the college football season. By Amway Coaches Poll standards, it's the No. 4 Ducks against the No. 8 Spartans. And in MSU coach Mark Dantonio's estimation, it's a meeting of two college football innovators.

"I think there are certain programs that sort of set the trend for offensive or defensive football," Dantonio said at Big Ten media days this week in Chicago. "I think that's happened at Michigan State on the defensive side. We had a lot of people come and visit us this year, you know, 30 different programs or whatever it is. I think Oregon is one of those teams that has sort of set the trend in college football offensively, at least one of those.

"So you have to look and see what they do, and a lot of people are emulating them, and you see parts of their offense when you look at other aspects of the Big Ten or other parts of the nation. It will be a great challenge for us."

MSU defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett recently said that the Oregon offense is similar, at least in tempo, to Indiana's. It'll be a massive test for MSU's new-look defense, but also for an offense that knows it must have a big day to give the Spartans a chance at Autzen Stadium.

"I think that could be a statement game," MSU junior quarterback Connor Cook said. "I think that would just open up eyes around the country, like, 'Wow, Michigan State's for real.'"